Sports psychologist examines mishap against Real - Will Neuer be able to put that thought aside for the European Championship?
Manuel Neuer, age 38, transformed into Bayern Munich's sad sight in Madrid. He had been world-class since the 88th minute, shielding his team's 1-0 lead with some incredible saves. But then, a rare blunder: Neuer couldn't hold on to a Vinicius Junior shot and unintentionally redirected the ball towards Real Madrid striker Joselu, who only needed to poke it in from close range to tie the score. Earlier, Neuer himself had made a short clearance.
This marked the beginning of the Spanish comeback that tied the score at 2:1 (first leg resulted in 2:2).
Neuer provided a strange reason for his slip-up: "I didn't anticipate a tiny mole on the field and that the ball would bounce there. It's difficult for me to handle it then, and Joselu was quicker at it."
Herzog outlines the key factors influencing Neuer's recovery: "For an experienced goalkeeper like Manuel Neuer, who has undergone numerous highs and lows over his career, there are several factors that will determine how soon he can shake off this mistake:
- Experience and resilience: Neuer's mental toughness is well-known. His career history indicates that he has overcome similar situations before. This can aid him in processing the current fiasco more quickly, allowing him to learn from it.
- Support system: The caliber of support Neuer receives - from coaches such as Tuchel and Nagelsmann, as well as the national team and, if necessary, psychologists, along with his loved ones - plays a pivotal role in overcoming setbacks. A strong, supportive environment promotes mental recovery. Immediately after the match, it was crucial to support Manuel and make him feel that the team and coaching staff were on his side. It's important he doesn't feel overwhelmed by responsibility. Tuchel and his teammates have performed admirably in this regard.
- Mental training and preparation methods: Consistently applying mental strategies like visualization, mindfulness, and cognitive reframing can successfully challenge any negative cognitive patterns that could ensue following an error.
- Focusing on the next objective: Concentrating on upcoming challenges, like the European Championships, helps redirect attention away from the blunder and towards new objectives. This enhances motivation and self-confidence.
- Personal motivation and attitude: Neuer's personal drive and his capacity to enthuse himself and concentrate on his targets are critical. An internal yearning to better and persist can play a massive role in rebounding. After all, the European Championships are held at home. A one-of-a-kind experience at the final leg of his career. Neuer will do everything in his power to ensure that a similar mishap doesn't happen in the European Championships.
Herzog is positive about Neuer's recovery
Herzog predicts that Neuer will have entirely erased the mistake from his mind by the time the European Championships happen: "Taking these factors into consideration and Neuer's past career, it's highly probable that Manuel Neuer will have digested the mishap by the time the European Championships approach, preparing himself mentally for the oncoming games. The length of this process may differ, but his experience and the support he receives will help him to face the European Championships more resilient and concentrated."
Former Bayern boss and goalkeeping legend Oliver Kahn (54) concurs with Herzog's opinion about Neuer.
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Source: symclub.org
